Deciding Skies (Fate's Intent Book 2) (3 page)

My father was so impressed by it that I actually saw him move out of the corner of my eye and I had to look. He leaned forward in his seat and watched intensively as Adele whipped the chain around the man’s neck. She gave it a quick tug toward her and removed his head, probably what she planned to do to me but I didn’t look away from it. She landed in a roll and came to a stop while being down on one knee with her head down like she were bowing before my father.

The crowd cheered with even more excitement.

“Oh, no. Too good?”

“Fuck no.” Darius smiled. “It was brilliant. Talk about entertainment.”

“I’m sad it’s over.” Troy added.

We shared a laugh to the truth. It really didn’t last that long.

My father rose to his feet and simply held up his hand. The crowd instantly took notice and settled down so he could speak. “You have indeed proven yourselves worthy. For we have never seen such a show than what you’ve performed for us tonight. We are all honored to be your hosts and bring pity on the Kaluian soldiers you shall encounter.”

The audience cheered again and the Kalu Assassins bowed to him and waited for him to leave before they left the arena through the door they used to enter.

It was officially over and no one was hurt, well, no one I wanted to get hurt was. That was a relief and we began to leave with the crowd to congratulate them our own way.

Chapter 4

Lamar

Well, that was quite a show, wasn’t it?

“You seem disappointed, Lamar. Why is that?” The King walked through the halls of the palace with me following silently a step behind.

“I am not, your majesty. I thought they should have to prove themselves to you and they have done that.”

“But—”

Since he asked, I attempted to speak my thoughts. “I advise you to be cautious about letting in such warriors to your place of living. What if they are not here for what they say?”

“If the Leccans had another agenda, I assure you, Lamar, Zayden would have picked up on it. He knows how to read those kinds of things.”

My eyes rolled imaginatively in my head and I was careful not to let it out on my voice. “Yes. I suppose he would have. Yet that does not mean they shouldn’t be watched.”

“They will be. I’m sure my boys are volunteering to do that as we speak.”

“I didn’t mean by meaninglessly taking them in their beds. Planning to do so will just leave them distracted to what really is.”

The King stopped, me stopping after him. He took a breath and turned his head. “I’m aware that my boys have gathered a reputation for such things. They are young, good looking and quite deserving of the life they lead but they also understand when something needs to be done. As future leaders of this country, you must respect their choices and honor me in mine when I say these Leccans are not going to pose a problem to us.”

I bowed my head, keeping it down through my response. This is the only person I would never show attitude to. “Forgive me, your majesty. I only worry about your protection.”

“It is not your job to. Now, go. Away with you until I’m in need of negative counsel.”

“Of course, your majesty.”

I turned from the King and we started our separate ways.

I was angry. I did not approve of what the King was allowing.

“Order me away. How dare you? You need me. I’m the only one who makes any sense around here but I guess if you won’t listen to me, I’ll get someone else that will.”

I went to my room on the first floor. It was small. Nowhere near as nice as the guest rooms. I was basically a servant to the King and was tired of being treated as such. I grabbed a long hooded cloak from the wardrobe and headed out into the city.

“Where is the messenger recently used by the King?” I asked the clerk at the messenger post just outside the palace walls.

“Shaffer? He’s been missing since then. Some soldiers found his horse outside the walls wandering around northeast from here.”

My heart stopped. “What do you mean? Gone?”

“It happens when we have to send someone east. Closer to danger and bandit territory. There’s no protection for anyone out there.”

“Bandits. Yes.” I began to turn. “Always the way.”

I walked out, my anger even higher. Fool. Can they not see he was killed by their own Prince? Surely he was protecting himself but so what? Another failure. Why is that always the way? Will I ever get a break? I have to do something else. Something better.

I tossed the hood over my head and walked farther away from the palace, seeking someone that would do my will.

A tavern in the outskirts of the city was a perfect place. Middle of the day but still full of unruly characters who would do just about anything for a sack of gold.

“Long day?” The barkeep asked.

“Yes. Very long.”

“What can I get you?”

“I’m in search of someone. A hit man, if you will.”

“Got yourself someone doing evil things, huh? If the cause is loyal, you might want to look into making a schedule with the Great Seni Fighters. I hear they arrived home today. They’re the best around in what they do.”

“No. No.” I said, keeping my head down slightly so the man couldn’t see my whole face. “This isn’t like that. Someone hidden from the law.”

“Ah, I see. There is a man. Calls himself, Chase. Don’t know if that’s his real name but he comes here often. Check the back. That’s usually where he goes.”

I nodded and walked to the back of the tavern. There was a hallway that led to a few other rooms. I walked slow and looked in the first room. “Excuse me. I’m looking for Chase.”

“Come on in!” A voice said loudly. I stepped in and approached a table with a single man sitting on the other side. A shabby fellow. Looks like he’s been in here for days with all of the scraps of food and empty glasses laying around. “What can I do for you?”

“I need to have someone—taken care of.”

“A job at last! I haven’t had one in weeks. Please have a seat. Who is this person you wish to have removed from this life?”

“It’s more of a group per-say.”

“A group? I’ll have you know that my rate is—”

I dropped a heavy sack of gold coins in front of him. Price wasn’t a problem. “I have enough.”

“I see.” Chase smiled, scratching his fingers in the curls of his beard. “Who be this group you’re willing to pay so heavily for?”

“The Great Seni Fighters.”

He sucked in a breath of air and almost choked on it. “What?! Are you out of your mind? No one in the world could succeed in doing that. There is no price worth dying for.”

“Then I’ll settle for the three women that will be with them.”

“Women, huh? Not by any chance the three I saw them returning with today?”

“Those exact three.”

“Splendid. My boys will love to have some fun with this one. Where?”

“They’re at the palace now but I’m sure that will change the longer they stay. You have others working under you?”

“Yes.”

“Then send out your own spies. Watch. Wait. Do what you must but I want them gone!”

“All right. All right. We’ll do it. Keep your skin on.”

“You succeed and I’ll pay triple your asking price. Keep that as terms of our agreement.”

“Excellent.”

We shook hands and I left.

I was confident now, smiling the whole way back to the palace. Things seemed to finally start to go right.

Chapter 5

Adele

Dueling can sometimes be a mess. Where Ruby’s kill was clean, mine and Jaylyn’s left blood behind—on us.

It made sense that we would need to clean up right away and I didn’t question it when a few maids escorted us to the palace bathhouse. Towels were brought in while the pool was being prepared and the maids approached us, ready to remove our clothes to be washed.

Ruby immediately stuck out her hand to one of them before they touched her. “We can take it from here, ladies. Thank you.”

The maids only bowed their heads silently and respectfully and left the bathhouse without a word like it was forbidden just to talk to us. If they only knew.

“Sorry.” Ruby said. “I have a thing about strangers trying to bathe me.”

“We’re fully capable of doing it ourselves. Now let’s go!” Jaylyn ran toward one of the large pools and the wet floor carried her the rest of the way. She slipped right in with a splash.

Ruby and I laughed hysterically from the sight. Ruby was usually the clumsy one though I guess it helped that the floor was wet but I still got enjoyment out of it.

“It wasn’t that funny.” Jaylyn said, climbing out of the pool.

“Yeah, it was!” Ruby replied. “You had to see it!”

“What is in that water anyway? It looks weird.”

“It’s probably milk.” I said. “That’s what’s used back home to make a privacy barrier for such a public place.”

“Like anyone cares about privacy when they go to a public place.” Ruby said. “Can we just get out of these clothes now? I’d like to because they’re girlie and yours are covered in someone else’s blood. Can’t you ever kill cleanly?”

“What’s fun about that?” Jaylyn smiled.

Ruby just sighed to her excitement and started to take her swords off. The joy of the moment was gone but I knew we could still make fun of this. A shower was nice but actually having a warm bath was a better luxury.

Chapter 6

Zayden

We’ve been looking for those pretty faces since they left the arena and only had one idea about where they would have been taken. We approached the bathhouse from the second floor and heard the echoing laughs to prove it. They were in there for sure and we arrived just in time. Ruby was about to undress.

Darius almost yelled in excitement for it but I quickly covered his mouth before he could let out a sound. “Don’t say a word.”

The girls didn’t see us on the balcony and I didn’t want them to think we were spying—again.

“Do either of you think this is wrong?” Troy asked.

“Oh, don’t be like that.” Darius said. “Learn to have a little fun.”

“Maybe he’s right, Darius. They don’t even know we’re up here. It’ll be the second time we’ve listened in on their conversation.”

“Who said this was about listening? I fully intend to be content with just watching.”

I sighed and just gave him a look. This wasn’t about that and he knew it for sure.

“Oh, you better not ruin this. You know you want it and besides, the listening will be a good way to learn stuff about them which we should if we plan on leaving with them. Maybe you’ll find out Adele’s secret she won’t tell you.”

“Wow, there’s actually logic to his insanity.” Troy muttered.

I couldn’t say no because I knew he was right. They both were and I did want to know. “Okay but only for a few minutes. That’s all.”

“Better than nothing.”

Our eyes looked back down towards the pool and the girls had taken out all of their weapons and were now sitting down on a bench taking their boots off.

Ruby was the first to stand up and she looked down at her outfit, her hands unsure about where they should go. “Ah, a little help?”

“What?”

“How exactly is this supposed to come off?”

Adele laughed from her question and stood up. “Come here.”

Ruby stepped towards her and she turned her around, undoing the laces that went all the way up her back to the back of her neck.

“Okay. That ought to work.”

Darius started to get tense when Ruby slipped her arms out of the dress and was pushing it down to her hips but I silently urged him to get control without even looking over. My eyes were on Ruby and her willingness to undress anywhere. Granted, they didn’t know we were up here and it was a bathhouse but still, I appreciated the view as much as the two next to me. Ruby was beautifully proportioned and there were no questions about why she enjoyed to show it off.

“Adele!”

My eyes finally moved and Jaylyn was horrifically looking towards Ruby like something was seriously wrong and I feared the worst.

“Ruby!” Adele ran right over to her and bumped her, making her tumble into the water.

I was a little unsure why she did it at first but it soon all made sense and I thanked her for it.

“What was that for?!”